Method of and apparatus for making sanitary pad shields



A. N. SPANEL 7 2,022,608

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SANITARY PAD SHIELDS Filed Aug. 10, 1933 1 1 4 INVENTOR flBEAHAM -N SPANEL ATT RNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SANITARY PAD SHIELDS Abraham N. Spanel, Rochester, N. Y. Application August 10, 1933, Serial No. 684,548 10 Claims. (01. 18-41) This invention relates to the method of and to the apparatus for making sanitary pad shields. In my co-pending application, Serial No. 684,547, filed August 10, 1933, there is disclosed a shield for a sanitary pad and a method as well as apparatus for making the same. In accordance with the present invention, another method and other apparatus are provided for manufacturing such shields whereby they are made by dipping a vertically movable form endwise into a solution or a liquid of which the shield is composed.

' For a clearer understanding of the invention reference is made to the drawing in which there is illustrated in Fig. 1, a sanitary pad with a shield applied thereto; Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of one type of form while Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of another type of form both suitable for making the shield; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the main body portions of the forms of Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. l, 5 designates a sanitary pad made of absorbent fibrous substance such as cotton or cellulosic material enclosed in a strip of cloth 6 of rather open weave. In this figure, there is also illustrated a. tubular shield enclosing a substantial portion of the sanitary pad which has the end of its strip of cloth extending through openings at each end of the shield. This shield is made of smooth, flexible, water-proof material 30 preferably formed of dipped rubber from a solution or latex and has any suitable or longitudinal opening or slit 8 in one of its walls through which one fiat surface of the pad is exposed, the ends of the opening being strengthened against tear- 5 ing by reinforcements 9 and Ill formed as thicker rubber deposits in the shield. The reinforced edges II and HA may be made to serve as these reinforcements. The openings in the ends of the shield, are reinforced as indicated at H and HA 40 either by increased thickness of the shield layer or by rings of the shield material rolled back upon itself at the margin of these openings.

The shield as disclosed in Fig. 1 may be made by dipping a glass or metal form I2, one suitable 45 shape of which is shown in Fig. 2, into liquid rubber such as a rubber solution or a dispersion of rubber in water. This form is preferably supported on the under side of a frame l3 so that it can be dipped vertically along its main axis into 50 the rubber solution. Altho there may be numerous variations in the shape of the form. it preferably has at its upper end a cylindrical neck l4 adjacent the frame, which neck at its lower end merges into an enlarged cylindrical body portion [5. The lower part of this body portion merges into a lower cylindrical or neck portion it of reduced diameter which terminates in an abrupt edge I1, and on the extreme lower end of the lower cylindrical portion there is provided a 60 downwardly projecting conical projection I8 having a base of slightly smaller area than the base of the cylindrical portion. On one side of the body portion of the form, there is provided a relatively sharp vertical rib l 9 which is parallel to the main axis of the form I2 while at each end 5 of this rib there is provided in the body portion a depression 20, extending upwardly at an acute angle to the vertical as shown in Fig. 4.

In the making of a shield, the form illustrated in Fig. 2 is dipped lengthwise vertically one or 10 more times into liquid rubber such as a dispersion of rubber in water, until it is immersed to a point such as 2| on the neck i i of the form. In as much as the form is dipped intothe liquid rubber with its principal axis and the long axis 15 of therib in a vertical position, there is little oportunity for air to be trapped and the resultant pitting of the shield is obviated. It will be understood that since the edge of the vertical rib is is relatively sharp, the liquid rubber tends to 20 flow away therefrom so that the layer of dipped rubber along this ridge will be so weak that it can be readily parted to provide the slit or elongated opening 8. However, the liquid rubber will accumulate at the sides of the rib and in the depressions Eli at the respective ends of the ridge i9 and this extra thickness of rubber will provide the reinforcements 9 and H] and at the sides of the slit so that the shield will not tear further along the slit. Since the form of Fig. 2 at its lower end has an abrup edge H, the liquid rubber will tend to accumulate at this edge under the influence of gravity as indicated at 22, to provide a reinforcing ring. However, below this ring, the layer that has accumulated on the conical portion I 8 will enable the operator to tear it away as far as the edge I! to form an opening in the lower end of the shield. The layer of liquid rubber which has accumulated on the neck It up to point 2i can be rolled downwardly to provide an opening with a ring-rolled reinforcement. The relatively thick accumulation 22 of rubber at the lower end of the shield (Fig. 2) usually affords sufficient reinforcement for the opening in the lower end thereof but if desired this margin of the material may be rolled back upon itself to give greater strength.

After the dipped layer on the form has acquired the proper thickness and has been manipulated in the manner just described, the form with the shield thereon is placed in an oven which is maintained at the proper predetermined temperature for drying or for curing, or both. Obviously, if vulcanized liquid latex is used, it is only necessary to dry the film. After the shield is properly cured, it is stripped from the form and tumbled in accordance with the usual practice to prepare it for sale.

In Fig. 3 there is indicated another form to be used in the making of shields which form differs from that shown in Fig. 2, in that the lower end of the cylindrical portionlfi is rounded as indicated at 23. When this form is used, it is also dipped lengthwise vertically in liquid rubber until the main body of the rubber shield layer has acquired the desired thickness. The portion of the depositedlayer on the vertical sides of the cylindrical portion l8 will tend to how downward so that the layer 'will be somewhat thicker at 2d and particularly at 23, so that by shearing oil the rounded portion '23, this increased thickness may serve substantially as a reinforcement to the ends of the shield. The increased thickness of the layer at this opening is usually suificient to prevent undue tearing of the margin of the shield at this opening during use. It will be clear that even if portion 25 were no thicker than the body portion [5, the very elongated nature or the neck portion l5 would for all practical purposes serve as a reinforcement to the ends of the body portion [5.

It will be understood by skilled artisans that the rubber may be vulcanized in any suitable 7 way either before or after depositing the same on a form to produce the shield. The forms may also be successively dipped and dried or deposited by acid coagulation.

Modifications of the invention other than those disclosed herein may be resorted'to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A form for making dipped shields for sanitary pads which form has an enlarged cylindrical portion merging at each end into a cylindrical portion of reduced cross section, said body portion having av rib extending parallel to the major axis of the form and near each end of said rib being provided with a depression extending upwardly at an acute angle to the major axis of said form.

2. A form for making dipped shields for sanitary padswhich form has an enlarged cylindrical portion merging at each end into a cylindrical portion of reduced cross section, said body portion having a rib extending parallel to the ma or axis of the form and near each end of said rib being provided with a depression extending upwardly at an acute angle to the major axis of said form, the lower cylindrical portion having an abrupt lower edge.

3. The method of making a shield for a sanitary pad, which comprises providing a form having an elongated body portion merging at each end into portions of reduced cross section, said body portion having a rib thereon extending generally parallel to the principal axis of the form, dipping the form vertically along its principal axis into liquid rubber to deposit a layer thereon with a line of weakness in said layer at said rib, parting said layer at said line of weakness to provide an elongated opening therein, and removing the layer from the form.

4. The method or making a shield for a sanitary pad, which comprises providing a form having an elongated body portion merging at each end into; portions ofreduced cross section, the lower end of the lowermost portion having an abrupt edge, said body portion having a rib extending'generaily parallel to the principal axis of the'form, dipping the form vertically along its principal axis in liquid rubber to deposit a layer thereon with a line of weakness in said layer at said rib and a line of weakness at said abrupt edge, parting said layer at the first mentioned line of weakness to provide an elongated opening therein, and parting said layer at said 6 second mentioned line of weakness to provide an opening therein, and removing the layer from the form.

5. The method of making a shield for a sanitary pad which comprises providing a form hav- 10 ing an elogated body portion, merging at each end into portions of reduced cross section, said body portion having a rib extending generally parallel to the principal axis of the form, repeatedly dipping the form in the same direction ver- '15 tically along its principal axis into liquid rubber to deposit a layer thereon witha line of'weakness in said layer at said rib, parting said layer at said line of weakness to'provide' an elongated opening therein, and removing the layer from the form.

6. A form for making shields for sanitary pads, which form includes an elongated, generally cylindrical body portion having thereon a raised rib with an abrupt edge, said body portion merging at each end into a portion of reduced cross section, said raised rib having its principal axis parallel to the major axis of the form, and means at one end only of the form for supporting it with its long axis in a vertical position.

'7. A form for making shields for sanitary pads, which form includes an elongated, generally cylindrical body portion having thereon a raised rib with an abrupt edge and having therein a depression adjacent each end of said'rib', said 85 body portion merging at each end into a portion of reduced cross section, said raised rib having its principal axis parallel to the major axis of the form, and means at one end only of the form for supporting it with its major axis in a vertical 0 position.

8. A form for making shields for sanitary pads, which form includes an elongated body portion having thereon a raised rib with an abrupt edge and having therein a depression adjacent each 46 end of said rib,rsaid body portion merging at each end into a portion of reduced cross section, said raised rib having its principal axis parallel to the major axis of the form, and means at one end only of the form for supporting it with its major 50 axis in a vertical position. 1 r

9. A form for making shields for sanitary pads,

'which form has an elongated, generally cylindrical body portion having thereon a raised rib with an abrupt edge and having therein a depression adjacent eachj'end of said rib, said body portion merging at each end into a portion of reduced cross section, said raised rib having its principal axis parallel to the major axis of the.

body portion and means atone end only of the form for supporting it with its major axis in a vertical position. f V

10. A form for making shields for sanitary pads, which comprises a generally cylindrical body portion with a rib thereon extending longitudinally thereof, said body portion terminating at each end in a reduced cylindrical portion, said body portion being provided with a depression at each end or said rib, the lower end of the lower cylindrical portion terminating ina curved end.

7 ABRAHAM N. SPANEL.- 

